Friday, November 3, 2017

Disney announces today that Disney's California Adventure Paradise Pier will become Pixar Pier, starting Summer 2018. Well, part of it only as the other part will become a new land called Paradise Park. California Screaming' coaster will be named Incredicoaster with obviously a theming based on The Incredibles and a new family attraction based on Pixar's Inside Out will also come at a later date. Others theming changes will happen here and there, and on the Mickey's Fun Wheel gondolas. And if some of you wonder why they're doing this, one word - always the same: synergy. I remind you also that the sequel The Incredibles 2 is opening in theaters next year on June 14, so this explain that for the changes of theming on the California Screamin' coaster. Full details in Disney press release below.

"Summer 2018 will bring a transformed land for guests to experience at Disney California Adventure park when Pixar Pier opens along the southern shore of Paradise Bay, with newly themed attractions, foods and merchandise throughout. This new, permanent land in the area that is now Paradise Pier will introduce four new neighborhoods representing beloved Disney-Pixar stories.

The first of the four themed neighborhoods guests will find is inspired by “The Incredibles.” Here, the new Incredicoaster, permanently transformed from the attraction that is now California Screamin’, will open with Pixar Pier in summer 2018.

This new experience will feature a mid-century-modern-style loading area, new character moments and a new look for the ride vehicles. To prepare for this transformation, California Screamin’ will close Jan. 8.

The popular Toy Story Mania! will anchor the “Toy Story”-inspired neighborhood. A neighborhood inspired by “Inside Out” will be found on the western side of the boardwalk and will welcome a new family-friendly attraction, scheduled to open at a later date.

The fourth neighborhood will be a celebration of many of your favorite Pixar stories. In this neighborhood, Mickey’s Fun Wheel will have a new look, with each of the 24 gondolas featuring different Pixar characters and the iconic face of Mickey Mouse remaining on the Paradise Bay side of the wheel.

At the Games of the Boardwalk, which already includes the Bullseye Stallion Stampede game, all of the midway games will be inspired by Pixar characters. Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Games of the Boardwalk and Sideshow Shirts will close Jan. 8 to begin this transformation.

Ariel’s Grotto restaurant and the Cove Bar will be transformed into a new lounge and grill offering sparkling views of Paradise Bay and the new Pixar Pier. Both locations will close Jan. 8, with Cove Bar reopening briefly in April before closing again for its permanent transformation. Guests wishing to reserve “World of Color” dining packages after Jan. 7 may consider Carthay Circle Restaurant or Wine Country Trattoria.

The remaining areas of the land that is now Paradise Pier, including Paradise Gardens, Silly Symphony Swings, Jumpin’ Jellyfish, Goofy’s Sky School, Golden Zephyr and The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, will become a new land called Paradise Park.

Pixar Pier will open during the limited-time Pixar Fest celebration, which begins April 13. The celebration will include the new “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” fireworks as well as the return of Pixar Play Parade and “Paint the Night” parade, and much more throughout the entire Disneyland Resort."

O-Kay, that's it for the press release. Now, the question is: "Will this new concept work?" Honestly, I don't know. I suppose that some guests will be more happy to ride an Incredibles coaster than one not related to an IP, even if the ride itself will be the same, but apart this... The future ride about Inside Out will be probably could have been more interesting but in fact it will be a kiddie-family ride. Apparently they needed a kind of Toy Story land at DLR where they don't have one and although this Pixar Pier will be entirely different than TSL we can find some similar colors on the rendering, and even a giant Jessie. But this Paradise Pier had so many changes from its original storyline and theming by Imagineer Tim Delaney that i'm not sure there is any meaning anymore... In two words, i'm not far to think that this is a mistake...

Disney was making such great efforts to make DCA the park we all love now.The Pier could use some enchantments, even if they took the turn of the century theme with some Disney characters, that would be nice. Even the first concept of Pixar Pier looked ok (minus the cheap name).

Pixar Pier is a cheap fix to fix something that is not really broken. It's Disney playing Six Flags once again...

Come on, Mickey's Fun Wheel with Pixar stickers on the vehicles?!

And the Inside Out ride is of course Flik's Flyers with new theming. So there's your confirmation of FFF closing... It will open later, because they need to close FFF first ;)

Do they need a new "family friendly" part of the park with character theming, when they close FFF and start with the Marvel part?! Maybe this is their answer to that.

Paradise Pier could be so nice, so Disney worthy. What they are doing now is the same thing they did in 2001: a cheap excuse to sell the Disney name, but without the love put into the area.

And don't even get me started on the name "Incredicoaster"... Did the intern come up with this?!

I really, really do not like this and I hate the fact that they turn into the wrong direction once again... :(

It looks like they're trying to put too much Pixar-franchises in this land.I wonder why they didn't decide to just go for Toy Story Pier? The beautifully themed TSMania-area in Tokyo DisneySea has proven that the Toy Story franchise fits perfectly on a pier / boardwalk. That would be a lot more thematically consistent, and DCA would have its own unique 'Toy Story Land'.

Everything they have done to the Pier in recent years was positive...the addition of Midway Mania, the removal of the Maliboomer, and the enhanced theming of some of the shops - all helped to create a more richly detailed, nostalgic theme that helped alleviate some of the sterile and tacky cheapness of the original park. There was still plenty of cheapness left - the queue of Screamin, the canopy of the carousel, the base of Fun Wheel, etc... but the hope of course was these remnants of the Eisner era would gradually be replaced with something better.

The current proposal, which sadly seems destined to be built without any time for debate on its merits, is a complete thematic hodge podge promoting franchises that the company seeking to promote. The Incredibles mid century theme, that garish (childish?, in a bad sense) carousel, and even a carny ride based on Inside Out - none of it gels together. Think for a moment about the theming of Midway Mania. Here was a ride showcasing a contemporary franchise, but doing so wrapped in beautifully detailed and subtle architecture. More Pixar could easily have been introduced without all the dissonance currently being planned.

This is my local park - I live 20 mins down the street - and am saddened by these developments.

What a disappointment! Does this part of the park really need a cheap fix? No! It seems since John Lasseter came aboard he is trying to get his Lasseterland. Cars-Land wasn't enough. At least it was an addition. Disney California Adventure has turned into a place where Disney is relabelling every other excisting attraction to a new franchise or movie instead of creating something new. Turning Tower of Terror into a Guardians of the Galaxy ride was as unnecessary as turning the coaster into an Incredibles ride.. With DCA the executives know that people won't react as they would if they'd do it over at Disneyland Park..

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